Room Love by Heather Wutschke

This book is beautifully put together and features a cute colour spectrum of white, pink and sky blue colours as it's main palette as well as using an array of graphics to help images and text stand out.

The layout is clear to read the steps on plain white background with black type telling us our supplies and then the project photos are backed onto funky designs instead to draw us in to looking at the examples to follow.

I studied textiles in school and this book reminds me of projects we found in books then only in here, they show and tell you clearer steps, there is an example mood board to follow as well. It features easy DIY's for things such as, make-up holders, sunglasses organizers, earring holders, mirror and wardrobe up cycling, curtain ideas and more!

The book features a DIY for everything you may ever need in your bedroom and is perfect if you like crafts and Youtube or Pinterest projects. If you are in a plain room or just need to change things up,  need a gift for someone crafty or a teen this is the book you need!

Many thanks to the publishers for allowing me a copy to review!

The Shelter Puppy by Holly Webb

Caitlin and her brother Aidan go to see a shelter full of cats and dogs in this book as Caitlin has to do a school project for a charity which she chooses the animal shelter.

It's there she meets Winston a whippet she falls in love with only when a school friend looks set to adopt him even her birthday can't cheer her up it seems...

A great story once again about saving animals and loving/caring for them too. Caitlin is a relatable character who cares so much in her actions inspired by the school project a heart warming read.

Lucky Dogs by Cody Clark

Juliet and Ruby are best dog friends so when Wiley arrives new in Dogwood he hopes to make friends with the residents in Dogwood but will they all accept him?

A great little book to show children how to be compassionate and accepting of others as well as showing some great artwork of the dog characters too which will bring the story to life for the readers.

Many thanks to the publishers for allowing me to review this book for them!

I Only Have Pies For You by Suzanne Nelson

In this sweet treat read we meet Dacey a girl from a small town in the south of America where businesses are closing down fast.

Her family's famous pie shop is kept going by it's regular locals and the legend of her great grandma's pie being magical in it's healing properties helped  especially as since the recipe was hidden no more successful copies of that Heartstring pie have been made.

Dacey however isn't naturally talented at pie making and has a quick fiery temper that gets the better of her, unlike her family and gets along better naturally with animals like her vet dad and she dotes on her horse Ginger.

Upon hearing from her best friend Zari that her nemesis Chayton is back in town she is super unhappy however her mum is overjoyed as his mum Julip has a TV show which could boost the town and provide some much needed tourism.

As the town revitalises itself, dealing with a sick horse, addressing her true feelings over Chayton, especially with Caroleen after him and trying to find and save her grandma's Heartstring pie recipie, there's an endless supply of drama I such a small town!

Suzanne writes such sweet stories love and food wise not only was the title another great pun but the mystery of where the recipe is keeps us intrigued and guessing along too. I loved the southern aspect especially as I love country music so animal lovers will especially enjoy the book.

The Summer House Of Happiness by Daisy James

After losing her mother, Gabbie fulfilled her dream of becoming a perfumer, now though after rejecting a deal which would be left her working away from customers like she wanted, she is returning back home to Devon to see her father whom works in a garage he owns.

Only she doesn't expect Max, a mechanic at the garage who also restores his uncle's old vintage car. There's an instant sizzle of attraction and desire between the pair as they connect seamlessly bonding over their car knowledge and combined loss of mum's.

However, Gabbie can only help so much and when she has tidied up enough to make sense of the accounts does she realise the baggage is on the precipice of bankruptcy!

Gabbie also helps out locals wanting remedies as she rediscovers her mum's old personal summer house of aromatherapy oils and creams. While it makes them some money it's not enough, so when she gets offered another perfumery postion, will she take it and manage to save the business?

Ooh so much action especially in the last quarter of this book as everything comes to a head health, work and relationship wise! As a knight in garage overalls may just save them all from worrying anymore. Love, friendship, following your dreams and of course passion for your career shine through this book in every page as each character is dealing with something in those categories. I loved the idea of Gabbie working as a perfumer as it's so rare to fiction to hear of as a career and plot around that As I would love that job imagine the fun! It was a true show of family love throughout!

Many thanks to the publishers for allowing me to review this book for them!

A Patchwork Family Part 1 by Cathy Bramley

Gina and her husband Eric split amicably where she leaves being a teacher behind to become a child minder. Eric evidently winds her up and belittles what she does from the off and her parents never gave her much attention either despite her wacky cool hair colours.

As she discovers a dishy new headteacher, gets an Ofsted inspection and faces taking on more kids to childmind including a selective mute girl who's just lost her dad, she has her hands full so facing buying not renting her home from her elderly friends is exciting until a huge shock flips her plan upside down...

This book intrigued me into the ways of a working and older friendship and especially as they lose a beloved friend and family member sending their lives into chaos Cathy has me hooked I need to know what happens next!

Many thanks to the publishers for allowing me to review this book for them!

Toffee by Sarah Crossan

Sarah Crossan has once again written a brilliant verse book telling the story of Allie who becomes Toffee to Marla, a woman suffering from dementia who's house and shed she ends up squatting in after running away from home.

Only her home wasn't a home as we see through flashback memories Allie recall's as her father was violent towards her and his girlfriends after Allie's mum died.

We see how Allie tries to find Kelly-Ann who was her dad's last girlfriend and stayed the longest, caring the most and discovers a life changing fact from her too, can they find each other and rebuild their lives together?

Marla was a spot on depiction of dementia as I have an aunt who's even worse with her dementia though at one time she was like this she is now bedridden and doesn't understand a thing. The abuse was horrific but made the novel pack a punch, that phase may not be the most nicest way to put it considering the subject matter but the book will shock and make you empathetic to Allie and her situation, a true masterpiece.

Apple And Rain by Sarah Crossan

Apple lives with her nan but knows her dad and stepmum whereas her mum let her go willingly so she could live her life how she wanted to. Apple isn't popular but does make friends with Del the home-schooled boy whom lives in the house at the back of her band and is friends with Pilar at school until she gets taken by popular Donna and her group.

Yet as Apple's mum returns suddenly unexpectedly, she makes another shock discovery but also discovers so much from being a good poet writing about her true feelings to release them privately she also has to cope with her mum's drinking, parties, smoking and her other daughter, Rain whom at ten still carries a doll believing it to be real and mothering it even at school.

But then a good and bad thing happen to her at once leaving her with mixed emotions not even starting to add Egan into the mix too...

The book deals with the typical broken family but adds so much more to it as her mum actually returns only to let her down once again in many ways, she also has to deal with more typical issues being a teen girl and some of the story is shocking adding a thrill to the book hooking me in to the point I had to just finish it, I loved it.

The Ticket To Happiness by Faith Bleasdale

Pippa and her siblings turned their home of Meadowbrook Manor into a hotel after their father passed away just leaving a final wish saying they must live together there for a year.

The single sibling Pippa longs for her partner to come along despite the workload from the hotel all her siblings being in couples makes her question when it'll be her turn as she would love a baby despite going through a divorce and being an auntie.

Her writer friend Hector checks in, a firm family friend with an apart crush on Pippa, he was previously from reality TV and involved in a sex scandal from it making Pippa feel he's immature!

Then American Brooke arrives set for a long stay trying to find her British family after learning that she's not just American...

When Harvey a guest comes and sweeps Pippa off her feet as he's so her type, older, high up job, appreciates her, unlike her ex husband still she can't see how Hector her long term friend feels about her because she feels he's too young for her when he's only two years younger!

As Pippa has to realise her true feelings, she makes a shock surprise discovery about Brooke which tips her and her family's world upside down...

While some parts were predictable and did happen how I thought there's still the drama and element of surprise in how the actions come about. I liked the element of team family as the siblings are all on each others sides especially when trouble strikes as well as each being distinctively different from each other in personality, interests and family set up there's someone you can relate to in some way. In my head the characters came to life and I felt like I was immersed right into the story like I was there at Meadowbrook myself, best read under the beautiful sunshine you won't regret picking up this feel good book!

Many thanks to the publishers for allowing me to review this book for them!

We Are Not Okay by Natalia Gomes

In this book we meet Sophie, she loves her boyfriend but feels pressed to have sex with him. She's friends with Ulana. However she fixates on being the perfect weight and sends her boyfriend a risky photo he asks her to send...

Sophie admires Lucy, popular girl and recently single after secretly her boyfriend Rhys dumped her not the other way round and starts seeing Trina like she lies to her friends. She also hates the fact her dad left for a new family and her mum can't leave the house now. Only as she wishes her ex would go back to her she makes a shocking discovery that he had no idea about as he moves on unaware what has happened since their split...

Trina, Rhys new sort of girlfriend doesn't fit the stereotype of university student as she feels stuck in her town with her mum as shes in debt. She gets called a slut at school because of rumours and how she dresses.

Ulana is a new girl, a muslim in a school alone from her fellow usual students who accepted her. Her only friend seems to be Sophie now and Aidian who sticks up for her against the bullies only as the pair descend into a relationship her religious beliefs start to break their happiness despite Aidan wanting them to act like a normal couple...

The girls lives collide as they all deal with serious teen issues as describe above and further others in the book it's a relatable book as anything mentioned could happen to a teen girl or a girl of any age. I liked that the characters all had very different personalities from being shy, outgoing, self assured etc sometimes it can be hard to split characters apart in your mind but these were all unique and made the read better. This is a book perfect for showing the pressures that can be mounted on teens.

Many thanks to the publishers for allowing me to review this book for them!

Coming Home To Ottercombe Bay by Bella Osborne

Returning to Devon years after her mum died there, Daisy inherits a house from her great uncle Reg who's just passed away.
Along with her aunt Coral, neighbour Tamsyn and Max she is set on doing it up, after getting over the shock.

After Max's dad gets out of prison, Tamsyn gets a boyfriend and Daisy discovers what happened to her mum and how she died, tensions rise at the old railway station especially her turbulent relationship with Max as her ex returns to her and causes a lot of trouble...

I totally loved the idea of inheriting a railway station as well as the characters whom bounced well off each other with their voices and ways. There was a nice contrast and I could believe in their friendships and relationships. It was a nice and well developed read dealing with issues that can effect us all from death, grief, love and doubt I will definitely look out for more by Bella in the future!

Many thanks to the publishers for allowing me to review this book for them!

Edie Browne's Cottage By The Sea by Jane Linfoot

Edie following her break up with Marcus partakes in a skydive which is followed up with a supposed unrelated stroke.

Recovery is hard and slow and so Edie sets off to stay with her aunt Jo in Cornwall as she can't drive or work and needs to relearn things from reading, writing, maths skills to even wanting to get her sense of taste back after that vanishes too!

Her arrival causes a stir with a handsome man next door, Barnaby catching her quite literally when she first arrives.

Between crafting classes with her ballet mad auntie Jo and renovating her house too as they need to sell to make money, she finds her career coming in handy as she helps her auntie alongside Barnaby and her new craft club friends to decorate the buildings out back in their yard to make into work accommodation and make them some much needed money.

Barnaby also creates Sheperd's huts and so she also helps him to decorate them and to sell them. Through her time in Cornwall she befriends Cam, whom Barnaby is the guardian of and the boy grows find of Edie as he does her...

She also gets Dustin a service dog to help her and he comes to her rescue and form a good bond together.

However with a potential sale of their house and her ex Marcus showing up too alongside all the drama the stroke left from fainting to learning everything a new agin, what does Edie's heart truly want?

Stay or leave Cornwall?

Go back to Marcus or maybe take a chance on Barnaby?

Edie was a rare character in women's fiction to come across, from being seriously ill and daring too she will leave a mark on you and make you grateful for your life. This book was a fun sweet read and the cakes you read about will have you wanting to get baking or buying too as well as the craft talk make you want to have a go too, it did for me anyway!

Many thanks to the publishers for allowing me to review this book for them!

Cursed by Karol Ruth Silverstein

I wanted to review this book after seeing the main character surfers from a chronic illness, totally relatable to myself in some ways.

Only I suffer from fibromyalgia and other rheumatoid illnesses where as Erica or Ricky suffers with severe arthritis at just fourteen causing her to skip school and struggle with daily life from waking to sleeping, all day is a struggle to walk and be in endless pain.

As she deals with her parents divorce and her health she loses her way with school work, has to stand up to bullies, find new friends and become less colourful with her anger language of cursing!

As she gets tutored after school and makes friends with Ollie and Julio her crush grows but will she realise on who in time as well as finally getting her separated parents to listen to get about how she feels?

It was a good book, however I can't help but feel that Erica didn't actually curse that much, I felt and expected her to be more frustrated than she was given the title and would be liked to have had her mum more features in the whole book as she didn't a lot but then again Erica does try to be fully independent. But for the chronic pain and illness side of things it was fully realistic and accurate and it's great to see chronic pain featuring in a young adult book for once at last too!

Many thanks to the publishers for allowing me to review this book for them!

No Fixed Address by Susin Nielsen

In this book we meet Felix and his mum whom live in a van. All their life is packed away as his mum relies on her cunning will to make sure she can provide a little food and a place to sleep that is at least slightly safer than a park bench.

They get his mum's friends to cover for them and not get them found out as Felix enrols in school and makes some friends especially and become a more settled despite their situation.

It seems their luck may change when Felix gets the chance to go on a tv show with a cash prize only then trouble strikes for the pair and their future looks even more uncertain than ever before...

It was a thought provoking book and was realistic as more families fall into poverty and struggle more and more. Though his mum was trying her best we see how she fell into deep times of depression due to their unending situation which is understandable alike Felix's hatred towards their situation which mounts throughout the novel too especially as he grows ill repeatedly and can't face his friends knowing his situation.
I really liked the topic being tackled and would love to see it mentioned more in young adult fiction as it rarely is.

Many thanks to the publishers for allowing me to review this book for them!

Behind Closed Doors by Miriam Halahmy

Josie lives with her mum in their house full of her mum's so called treasure, which is just charity shop buys hoarded so much they can't use hardly any rooms of their house and all their money funds the collection.

Tash lives with her mum and at times her mum's creepy boyfriend who seems to fancy Tash and make creepy advances towards her touching and striking her as well as trying to get into her room late at night.

When Josie's mum forgets to pay the council tax, she ends up in prison and Tash finds solace in the secret hoarder house after Josie confides in her about her mum and meets Tash stay as she isn't safe at home.

Throughout the novel we are the girls struggle to cope on hardly any money and having to plan showers, washing and food, as well as deal with serious criminals and getting boyfriends. It's light and dark, mixed in moods as they face better and worse times as they fight to survive together and not get taken into care. It was a remarkable read, fighting to survive and being made homeless aren't seen enough in YA books and this sets the standard.

I'll Be Home For Christmas by Various For Shelter

This is an anthology of short stories based around various people and their versions of home. The stories range and all feature many things from broken families, new step siblings and parents, being gay and coming out, love and crushes, friendship and work.

From the anthology my favourite was Juno Dawson's Homo For Christmas, a story about coming out to your parents as in his case he has a boyfriend and is very happy with him but is anxious anticipating his mum's reaction.

All for a great cause, homelessness these stories are gripping and hard hitting as well as being fantastic quick reads.